Since the advent of time and man himself, war has evolved and magnified in scale by magnitudes. Yet there have been milestones that have changed the way a war was waged. Let’s take a look at the 10 weapons that changed the history of war and humanity forever!

Since the advent of time and man himself, war has evolved and magnified in scale by magnitudes. Yet there have been milestones that have changed the way a war was waged. Let’s take a look at the 10 weapons that changed the history of war and humanity forever!

1. AK-47:

Familiar to us all, the Avtomat Kalashnikova is easy to fabricate and use. Designed by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov in the 1940s, this weapon is arguably the most popular weapon in history. Apparently, you can bury a crate of AK-47s deep in the ground (properly protected, of course), dig them up decades later and they still will fire perfectly and jam rarely, if ever. That’s what makes this weapon the favoured tool of terrorists, insurgents, and desert fighters worldwide. Apparently the inventor was so horrified by the devastation and death caused by his brainchild that he regrets it ever being conceived.

2. Bayonet:

A simple knife attached to the barrel of a gun, the bayonet gives soldiers another option in case of close combat or when they are simply out of artillery. The bayonet gained popularity in the latter half of the 17th century with armies across Europe adopting the ingenious weapon. Armies around the globe use it even today as a weapon of last resort. When you’re out of bullets and grenades, it’s time to slap on your bayonet, kiss your fear goodbye, and charge the enemy baying for their blood.

3. Flintlock:

This mechanism featured a cheaper propellant ignition method than others available at the time. With gunpowder in the flash pan that was covered with a frizzen, the pulling of the trigger would release a hammer. This would grip shards of flint and propel it through the frizzen’s surface, creating a shower of sparks. This weapon has influenced artillery even today as the standard carrying, loading and firing positions of infantries are designed after it.

4. Gatlin Gun:

Designed by Dr. Richard John Gatling, it is called the gun that changed everything. Six rotating barrels fired one shot each using a hand crank at the rate of 200 rounds per minute. It was first used during the American Civil War and was since used in several battles across Europe as well.

5. Hoplon:

The Greeks used the Hoplon to great effect as they used its bronze body to shield and sometimes even bludgeon in close combat. This simple round plates design was used in later years by several armies around the world, including many in India.

6. Longbow:

Thought to have originated in Wales, this simple weapon’s mechanism is the basis of the modern-day missile. Its slingshot approach has long been the answer to long distance combat.

7. MG-42:

The Machinengewehr 42 was designed to thrive in extreme weather conditions. While firing 1500 rounds per minute, its quick barrel change enabled users to save precious time and lives. Although the Germans designed it during WWII, the gun’s legacy has certainly outlived the brutal Nazi regime that funded its production.

8. Roman Gladius:

The Roman Empire’s dominance was stamped using this small sword. Since other armies at the time believed in fighting as a collective unit, the Romans thought close combat was a much more effective way to go. This is where the compact Gladius prevailed over large and bulky weapons.

9. Maxim Gun:

Sir Hiram Maxim designed this recoil weapon in 1984. The crank-operated gun required crews of four to six men to operate. This weapon led to the invention of the modern-day battle tank.

10. M1 Garand:

The M1 Garand, designed by Canadian engineer John Cantius Garand, has proven its worth in many-a-battle. During WWII the semi-automatic gun gave American soldiers an edge over enemy combatants. Its design became a framework for several other weapons produced in later years.